Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

Group(s),

Just spent $1100 for a new Panasonic GS400 and I have to say the image
this camera delivers is very, very good. Comparable to a GL2 and very
close to Sony VX/PD cams. For the money, most bang for the buck, it is
the best deal out there in the Mini-DV 3CCD realm.

Aside from the great image quality, I really bought this camera for the
audio. You can switch the AGC off and go totally manual with this
camera, monitoring manual audio levels on the LCD monitor. Something
you can't do with a Canon GL1 or Sony VX2000, TRV900 etc., This is SO
critical for getting decent audio.

SO, that being said. This camera has a mini-jack that will supply
phantom power. What mic set up would be decent with this camera.

Is there a microphone (perferably shotgun) out there that is as great a
value as this camera?

I know particular cameras respond diffferently to different external
mics, I'm hoping someone out there also has a GS400 and is willing to
share mic info.

Thanks.
YKWTFIA

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

Dimitrios Tzortzakakis wrote:

> It's very easy to block with a capacitor, but I don't think it's worth the
> effort.At that price range, the camera must have an excellent
> microphone.(anyway, Xc=1/(omega*C), where Xc=0 for that frequency range,
> also audio frequencies, to allow them pass while blocking the DC, and omega
> is 2*(pi)*f, frequency in Hz.Just for comparison, the capacitor for FM and
> UHF is 1 nF, and for old-fashioned AM is 100 nF, at audio frequencies should
> be at uF range).

Hi Dimitrios,

I should have said, "buy an adapter that adapts XLR balanced to
unbalanced and blocks the DC like the XLR Pro"

I have a TRV900 but still use the Azden for far superior audio.

-Bill

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1 considering it doesn't
have XLR inputs? Given this, what do you do for great audio?

Thanks,
Bryce

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

"bd" wrote ...
> Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1
> considering it doesn't have XLR inputs? Given this,
> what do you do for great audio?

For nearly 80 years they've been using "double-system" sound.

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

Yeah, but for a run and gun shooter, this is impossible.

But, one hand on the camera, shooting, one hand on a short shotgun mic,
no shock mount, headphones on, does better than you would think...

If you are 10-20 feet away, you can do it all, it isn't as tough as
you'd think.

You actually fall into a groove of matching image and sound. If you
mispoint or mishandle the mic, you hear it, shout "go again" and keep
rolling.

BUT, getting that decent shotgun and a camera with no AGC at a
reasonable price is tough!

Panasonic GS400 plus ?Mic? = THE SOLUTION

Still waiting to hear if anybody has a GS400 and Mic and their comments
on the match up...

Don't let me be the test animal...

YKWTFIA

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

On 15 Sep 2005 19:37:00 -0700, in 'rec.video.desktop',
in article <Re: I have the perfect camera... Now what do I do for
audio!>,
"bd" <bryce.dooley@gmail.com> wrote:

>Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1 considering it doesn't
>have XLR inputs? Given this, what do you do for great audio?
>
>Thanks,
>Bryce

Bryce, you might want to take a look at the BeachTek model DXA-8
adapter. It attaches to the bottom of the camcorder, runs on a single
9 volt alkaline battery, and weights 2 pounds.

http://www.beachtek.com/dxa8.html

The alternative is to upgrade to an HVR-Z1 series camcorder.

Good luck!

--
Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY
[Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.]
Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

"Frank" wrote ...
> "bd" wrote:
>>Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1 considering it doesn't
>>have XLR inputs? Given this, what do you do for great audio?
>>
> Bryce, you might want to take a look at the BeachTek model DXA-8
> adapter. It attaches to the bottom of the camcorder, runs on a single
> 9 volt alkaline battery, and weights 2 pounds.
>
> http://www.beachtek.com/dxa8.html

But it can't do anything to counteract the effect of ALC
in the camcorder.

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 21:40:15 -0700, in 'rec.video.production',
in article <Re: I have the perfect camera... Now what do I do for
audio!>,
"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xpr7t.net> wrote:

>"Frank" wrote ...
>> "bd" wrote:
>>>Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1 considering it doesn't
>>>have XLR inputs? Given this, what do you do for great audio?
>>>
>> Bryce, you might want to take a look at the BeachTek model DXA-8
>> adapter. It attaches to the bottom of the camcorder, runs on a single
>> 9 volt alkaline battery, and weights 2 pounds.
>>
>> http://www.beachtek.com/dxa8.html
>
>But it can't do anything to counteract the effect of ALC
>in the camcorder.

Which may be why, Mr. Crowley, I mentioned the HVR-Z1 as an
alternative.

It seems that a number of people purchased the HDR-FX1/HDR-FX1E as
soon as it hit the market, only to later trade it in for an HVR-Z1
model in order to get the balanced XLR audio input capability.

--
Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY
[Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.]
Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 22:37:00 -0400, bd wrote
(in article <1126838220.046030.126100@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> ):

> Does anyone have any input for the Sony HDR-FX1 considering it doesn't
> have XLR inputs? Given this, what do you do for great audio?
>
> Thanks,
> Bryce
>

Well first, the audio on both all HDV cams is not linear pcm, it's 384 kbps
stereo MPEG 2. That's about 25% of the data of a linear stream.

For truly great audio, you'd want to double record.

Ty Ford




-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com

Archived from groups: rec.video,rec.video.desktop,rec.video.production (More info?)

Ty Ford wrote:

>>I like the Azden SGM 1X but you need to adapt the XLR to mini stereo
>>plug and block the DC out on the mini-jack.
>>
>> -Bill
>>
>
>
> Really. A mini jack with 48V DC? Sure it's not just bias voltage?
>
> Ty Ford
>
It's not 48V phantom power but typically 3-6 volts to power the consumer
electret condenser mics.

-Bill